Imagine you’re doing some casual shopping with your spouse at Costco. You find something you like—a floor model liquor cabinet, perhaps—and suddenly, without warning, it crashes down on you. That’s exactly what Sadie Novotny says happened to her. And now, she’s suing Costco for over $14 million.
Sadie, who lives in Santa Rosa, California, says the incident happened back on March 22 while she was shopping at her local Costco. According to her lawsuit, a heavy liquor display cabinet fell on her, causing what she describes as “multiple, permanent, and catastrophic” injuries. She says she suffered head trauma, a traumatic brain injury, and damage to her shoulder, arm, hand, fingers, and back.
You can imagine how terrifying that must have been. According to an incident report from Costco that’s now part of the lawsuit, Sadie explained she and her husband were actually in the process of buying the cabinet when the floor model suddenly tipped over. She managed to catch it and push it back, but not before it injured her. Right away, she said she felt pain in multiple parts of her body.
On April 29, Sadie officially filed a lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court, accusing Costco of negligence. But Costco’s legal team later had the case moved to federal court in Northern California.
So, what exactly is she claiming Costco did wrong? Her lawsuit alleges that the store didn’t properly manage or display its merchandise, failed to train and supervise its employees, and allowed a dangerous situation to exist. Specifically, the complaint points out that the cabinet was placed in a “dangerous and precarious position.” It had thin legs and was sitting on a worn wooden pallet—not exactly the safest setup for a heavy object.
She’s not just claiming general negligence, either. The lawsuit also includes claims for premises liability (which means the store is responsible for injuries on its property) and product liability (suggesting the item itself may have been unsafe).
Now, about that $14 million. Sadie is asking for $14,110,000 in total damages. That breaks down to:
- $5 million for emotional distress
- $5 million for pain, suffering, and inconvenience
- $2 million for future medical bills
- $2 million for loss of future earning ability
- $50,000 for medical costs already incurred
- $50,000 for lost income so far
- $10,000 for loss of household help and services
That’s a major lawsuit, and as of now, Costco hasn’t made a public comment. But one thing’s for sure—Sadie’s shopping trip has turned into a legal battle that could take months or even years to resolve. And for her, what began as a routine day at Costco may end up changing her life forever.
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